A RING FROM THE
"VANITAS VANITATUM" SERIES.
THE RING DEPICTS ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE GENRE OF PAINTING "VANITAS" OF THE BAROQUE ERA OF THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES: A SKELETON, A VASE OF FLOWERS, A BOOK, A FEATHER, SOAP BUBBLES AND AN HOURGLASS. SUCH PAINTINGS WERE INTENDED TO REMIND OF THE TRANSIENCE OF LIFE, THE FUTILITY OF PLEASURE AND THE INEVITABILITY OF DEATH.
INSIDE THE RING IS THE INSCRIPTION "VANITAS", WHICH MEANS "VANITY".